I just wanted to jump in and say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm not currently dealing with an unemployment appeal myself, but I'm bookmarking this for future reference because the level of detailed, practical advice here is amazing. A few things that really stood out to me from everyone's experiences: 1. The consistent theme that employers often can't back up "misconduct" claims with actual documentation - this seems to be their biggest weakness in these cases. 2. The importance of filing the appeal quickly rather than waiting - several people mentioned filing within 2-3 days rather than using the full 14-day window. 3. How valuable that Claimyr service seems to be for actually getting through to TWC when you need to speak with someone urgently. 4. The fact that "misconduct" has a very specific legal definition in Texas that requires willful wrongdoing, not just poor performance. For anyone else reading this thread in the future - it looks like the key factors for winning these appeals are: lack of progressive discipline/warnings from the employer, recent positive feedback that contradicts their claims, and being able to present your case factually and chronologically during the hearing. @Jessica Suarez @Emma Wilson - wishing you both the best with your appeals! Based on everything shared here, you both have really strong cases. Please update us with your results!

As someone who works in HR (at a different company), I wanted to add some perspective from the employer side that might help with your appeal strategy. What I'm seeing in your case - and many others shared here - is a classic example of employers conflating "at-will termination" with "termination for cause." Many companies don't realize that just because they CAN fire someone without warning (at-will employment) doesn't mean they can successfully claim "misconduct" for unemployment purposes. In my experience, here's what typically happens: A manager decides they want to let someone go for performance reasons, HR processes it as a standard termination, and then when the unemployment claim comes in, someone in payroll or benefits (who wasn't involved in the actual termination) checks a box for "misconduct" without understanding the legal implications. The fact that you received positive feedback just a week before termination is a huge red flag that this was likely an impulsive management decision rather than a documented performance issue. Most legitimate misconduct cases have extensive paper trails - written warnings, performance improvement plans, documented policy violations, etc. For your hearing, emphasize these points: - Ask them to specify exactly what policy you violated - Request they provide documentation of progressive discipline - Point out the timeline inconsistency between positive feedback and sudden "performance issues" Based on the patterns I see, employers who can't produce this documentation usually lose these appeals. Your case sounds very strong. Good luck!

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! My benefits just expired last Friday and I've been frantically trying to figure out what my options are. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief - I had no idea that working even part-time during your benefit year could qualify you for a new claim. I'm also in healthcare (phlebotomist) and have been struggling to find a permanent position despite having 3+ years of experience. The competition is insane right now! I did work about 6 weeks at a temp agency covering different labs during my benefit year, so based on everyone's advice here, I'm definitely going to file a new claim today. For other phlebotomists out there - don't overlook mobile phlebotomy companies like Any Lab Test Now or Bioreference. They're always looking for experienced phlebs for home draws and workplace screenings. The scheduling can be unpredictable but it's decent pay and keeps your skills sharp while searching for something permanent. Also wanted to mention that Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp often have openings that aren't posted on their main career sites - try calling individual lab locations directly and asking if they need per diem or part-time help. Sometimes managers have immediate needs that haven't made it through corporate HR yet. This thread has been such a lifesaver during what felt like the most hopeless week ever. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - it's amazing how much better I feel knowing there are still options and that we're all going through this together!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My TWC benefits just ran out yesterday after 26 weeks and I was honestly panicking until I found this thread. I'm a medical technologist and have been searching for lab positions for months with very limited success. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that part-time work during your benefit year could qualify you for a new claim! I worked about 9 weeks covering shifts at a hospital lab during my benefit year, so it sounds like I should definitely file a new application based on what others are sharing here. For fellow lab professionals, I wanted to mention that reference labs like ARUP, Mayo Medical Labs, and Sonic Healthcare are often hiring remote positions for specimen processing coordinators and lab information specialists. The work might be different from bench work, but it's a way to stay in the field while searching for your ideal position. Also, don't overlook smaller independent labs - they often have faster hiring processes than the big hospital systems and sometimes offer more competitive pay to attract experienced techs. Check with medical office buildings in your area since many have on-site labs that need coverage. This thread has been such a godsend during what felt like the most stressful week ever. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - knowing that we're all navigating this together makes such a difference!

I went through this same stressful situation about 6 months ago here in Irving (Dallas area). My ReliaCard took exactly 7 business days to arrive, which was right in the middle of the timeframe everyone quoted me. A few things that really helped me during the wait: - I called US Bank at 1-800-657-6343 on day 4 and they confirmed my card had been mailed and gave me a rough delivery estimate - The envelope is SO plain - literally just a white envelope with tiny "US Bank" text. I was expecting something official looking with TWC branding - I was able to use the card at an ATM immediately when it arrived, even before completing the phone activation process Since your payment processed yesterday, you're looking at getting it early to mid next week, which should work for your rent timeline. Definitely call your landlord proactively - I wish I had done that instead of stressing until the last minute. Most property managers have dealt with this situation before and are surprisingly understanding. Also, once you get the card, you can transfer funds to your regular bank account through the US Bank app if your landlord doesn't accept debit card payments. The transfer takes 1-2 days but it's free. The waiting is brutal but hang in there - it WILL arrive! Irving and Dallas have pretty reliable mail service so you should be on the faster end of the delivery timeline.

I just went through this exact situation last month in Mesquite (Dallas area) and wanted to share my experience to hopefully help ease your stress! My ReliaCard took exactly 6 business days from when my first payment was processed to when it arrived in my mailbox. Here's what I learned that might help you: - The card comes in a completely plain white envelope that honestly looks like junk mail - just tiny "US Bank" text in the corner - You can call US Bank at 1-800-657-6343 to check on shipping status, they're way more helpful than TWC - Once it arrives, you can use it immediately at ATMs even while still doing the phone activation - USPS Informed Delivery is a lifesaver for tracking what mail is coming each day Since your first payment processed yesterday and you're in Dallas, you'll likely get it by early next week. That should work for your rent deadline! I'd definitely recommend calling your landlord now rather than waiting - I did this and they were totally understanding about the delay. The waiting is nerve-wracking but Dallas area mail delivery is pretty reliable. You've got this! Keep checking every piece of mail carefully and don't throw away those plain white envelopes. Good luck! 🤞

I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently completed their unemployment period and found a job! I used exclusively Indeed and LinkedIn for my entire 12-week job search and never once touched WorkInTexas. Not only did I never have any issues with my benefits, but when I got randomly selected for a work search audit in week 8, the TWC representative actually complimented me on how well-organized my documentation was. My system was pretty simple: I kept a running Google Doc with each week separated by headers, and for each application I noted the date, company name, exact job title from the posting, platform used (Indeed/LinkedIn/company site), and a brief note about the role. I also saved PDF copies of job postings when possible since sometimes they get taken down. The audit was honestly way less scary than I expected - they just wanted to verify I was meeting the 3 weekly requirements and that my applications were to legitimate positions. Since I had detailed records from day one, the whole thing took about 15 minutes over the phone. Don't let anyone scare you into thinking you HAVE to use WorkInTexas - focus on applying to quality positions wherever you find them and keeping good records. You've got this!

As someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits last month, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also worried about the same thing and had been stressing about whether my Indeed and LinkedIn applications would count. Reading all these experiences from people who successfully used various job platforms without issues is such a relief. I've been keeping detailed records in a spreadsheet similar to what many of you described, but I'm definitely going to implement some of the tips shared here - especially the email folder organization and taking screenshots of application confirmations. The Google Form idea for automatic timestamping is genius too! One question for those who've been through audits: how far back did they ask you to provide documentation? I want to make sure I'm keeping records for the right timeframe. Also, has anyone had experience with how they handle applications submitted through staffing agencies or recruiters? I've applied to several positions through temp agencies and want to make sure those count properly. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for helping navigate all the uncertainties that come with unemployment!

One thing I learned from my TWC experience is to always keep a screenshot or record of when your payment shows "processed" on the website. That way if there are any delays beyond the normal 3-5 days, you have documentation of exactly when it was processed to reference when you call TWC. Also, make sure to check that your mailing address is 100% correct in your profile - I've heard horror stories of checks getting sent to old addresses because people forgot to update their info after moving. The good news is that once you get past this first payment hurdle, the timing becomes pretty predictable!

For anyone still following this thread, another tip I learned the hard way - if you're expecting your check around a federal holiday or during bad weather, add extra time to your estimates. USPS delivery can get delayed, and TWC doesn't account for that in their 3-5 day estimate. I had a check delayed by 2 extra days during a winter storm last year. Also, if you live in an apartment complex, make sure your unit number is clearly listed in your TWC profile - sometimes checks get delivered to the wrong unit or held at the office if the address isn't complete.